Method and apparatus for electronic and photographic image recording

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for photographically and electronically acquiring, recording and storing a data image, and information in the form of a text image and an identification image, each associated with said data image, on photographic film and electronic media, comprising:

means for photographing the data image on film;

means for generating and displaying the text image representing information associated with the data image from stored data in response to a call for the text image;

means for photographing the text image onto the film in association with the data image;

means for generating the identification image associated with the data image from stored data in response to a call for said identification image;

means for recording the identification image onto the photographic film in association with said data image and text image;

means for electronically acquiring the data image and retrievably transferring the data image to storage in association with the stored data called for generating the text image and the identification image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for photographing the data image includes a scanning camera having a lens system, a shutter and film transport means movable relative to each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the shutter is a movable slit focal plane shutter for reducing flare.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a low flare slit illumination source for illuminating the data image and a slit data aperture adjacent the film for reducing flare.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for generating and displaying the text image includes a cathode ray tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for photographing the text image includes a lens, a shutter and a text aperture in a focal plane of the lens.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a deflecting mirror located between the text image and the text aperture for directing the text image of the film.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for recording the identification image is an optical recorder for recording the identification image onto the film.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for electronically acquiring the data image includes a photodiode array responsive to light representative of the data image for producing an output signal and an electronic module responsive to the output of the signal for generating information for transfer to storage.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a central processing unit including storage means for receiving the data image, the identification image and the text image and control means operatively coupled to the means for photographing the data image, the means for generating and displaying the text image, the means for photographing the text image, the means for recording the identification image, and the means for electronically acquiring the data image.

11. An apparatus for photographically and electronically acquiring, recording and storing data images and information associated with said data images on photographic film and electronic media, comprising:

a camera scanner including photographic film transport means for selectively locating selected frames of film at image and information locations;

means for supporting the data image relative to the photographic film transport means;

slit illumination means for illuminating the data image with slit illumination to produce a low flare slit illuminated portion of the data image;

means for moving at least one of the camera, the data image, and the slit illumination means relative to each other;

optical means for capturing the slit illuminated portion of the data image and directing the same onto the film during said relative motion;

means for generating a text image and an identification image representing information associated with said data image in response to a call for said text image and identification image;

means for photographing the text image onto the film in association with the data image;

means for recording the identification image onto the film in association with the data image; and

means for electronically and optically capturing the slit illuminated portion of the data image and directing the same to storage in association with the text and identification information associated with the data image.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the means for moving at least one of the film, the data image and the slit illumination means includes a motor, a lead screw, and a carriage carried by the lead screw and moved reciprocatively in accordance with directional movement of the motor.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the carriage carries at least one of the data image and the slit illumination means for moving one relative to the other.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11 further including means for optically splitting the data image between the optical means and the means for electronically and optically capturing the slit illuminated portion of the data image.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means for splitting the image is variable between the optical means and the means for electronically and optically capturing the slit illumination of the data image.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11 including slit aperture means located near the film for passing the data image therethrough to the film and reducing flare.

17. A data capturing apparatus for acquiring, recording and storing images electronically and photographically onto photographic and electronic media, comprising:

means for illuminating the image with slit illumination to produce a slit illumination portion of the image having reduced flare;

means for moving the image relative to the slit illumination until the full image has been scanned;

means for focusing the slit illuminated portion of the image onto the photographic and electronic media for simultaneously photographing the image and electronically capturing the image;

means for photographing onto the photographic medium near the photographed image, text related to said photographed image;

means for recording onto the photographic medium in operative association with the photographed image a text identification indicia for identifying said photographed image and text; and

means in association with said electronic medium for storing the acquired image, the text and the identification indicia associated with said image.

18. A method for capturing a data image and information associated with said data image electronically and photographically with reduced flare, comprising the steps of:

illuminating the image with slit illumination to produce a corresponding low flare slit image portion of said data image;

moving the slit illumination relative to the data image until the full data image has been scanned;

focusing the slit illuminated portion of the data image onto both an array of photosensitive surfaces and onto a photographic film;

photographing the slit illuminated portion of the data image over the entire scan;

entering an identification number for the data image into a relevant data base for text;

displaying from said data base text related to said image and generating identification indicia related to said displayed text and said data image;

recording on the film in association with each photographed data image, the text and the identification indicia related to the particular photographed data image;

electronically scanning the slit illumination portion of the data image at selected intervals so that elements of the data image are effectively scanned from an equivalent of square picture elements; and

retrievably storing the data elements in the data base in a manner related to the text and identification indicia.

19. The method of claim 18 further including synchronously moving the photographic film relative to the slit illumination and the data image to be scanned; and controlling the relative speed of the film, the slit illumination and the image in accordance with focal distances between the film and the data image.

20. The method of claim 18 further including providing an adjustable focal plane slit for low flare data image scanning interposed between the film and the data image; and synchronously moving the focal plane slit relative to the film and the slit illumination at a speed related to the ratio of focal distance between the image and the film.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein displaying the text further comprises generating electrical signals representative of the text and coupling the electrical signals to a cathode ray tube; and focusing the text from the cathode ray tube onto the photographic film.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein generating the image comprises producing an optical signal corresponding to the identification indicia and focusing the optical signal onto the photographic film for exposing the same and recording the identification indicia thereon.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a slit in front of the film to minimize flare.

24. An apparatus for electronically and optically comparing images on strips of film media acquired according to the method of claim 18 comprising:

film transport means for moving images on each film into a viewing position and scanning position;

means for illuminating and projecting the images on each film at the viewing position and scanning position;

means for viewing the images at the viewing position in side-by-side and superimposed configuration;

electronic scanning means for capturing the images at the scanning position; and

means for storing the electronically captured images for image analysis and storage.

25. A method for comparing images on film strips acquired in accordance with claim 18 further comprising:

transporting images on each film into a viewing position and scanning position;

illuminating and projecting the images on each film at the viewing position and scanning position;

viewing the images at the viewing position in side-by-side and superimposed configuration;

electronically scanning and capturing the images at the scanning position; and

storing the electronically captured images for image analysis and storage.

26. A method for capturing an image and information associated with said image both photographically and electronically, comprising the steps of:

entering into storage means an identification number corresponding to the image to be recorded and calling up from said storage means text information associated with the image and displaying the text information on a cathode ray tube;

photographically exposing the text information from the cathode ray tube onto a film substrate;

slit illuminating the image by a source of slit illumination and moving at least one of the source, the image and the film with respect to each other in synchronism, and focusing the slit illumination onto the photographic film through an optical path including a second slit in the focal plane;

generating an identification signal in response to entry of said identification number associated with said text and said image and recording an indicia representative of the identification number onto the photographic film, whereby the image and associated text and identification number associated with the image are recorded on photographic film; and

deflecting the slit illumination image onto an array of photosensitive electronic elements for generating an output, and storing the output in a manner associated with said text and identification number, whereby the text, the identification information and the image are acquired and stored in electronic storage concurrently with the photographic acquisition of the image.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for acquiring, recording and storing information in photographic and electronic media. In particular, the invention relates to image recording and specifically to recording two-dimensional images, such as are found in electrophoretic patterns, along with associated alpha-numeric information. A method and apparatus of comparison of images is disclosed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Electrophoresis is an electrochemical process in which colloidal particles or macromolecules having a net electric charge migrate in a solution under the influence of an electric field. The process is widely accepted and used, resulting in an enormous body of information and data.

Biological mixtures, such as proteins or nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) are often separated by electrophoresis in flat gels, yielding either a one-dimensional train or ladder or bars, or a two-dimensional pattern of spots. In either case, the result is a flat pattern to be analyzed visually or by computerized methods.

The gels containing the primary information, that is, the image pattern, are fragile. Accordingly, a photographic record is usually made for archival purposes, typically for reference or for use as an illustration in a scientific publication. In some instances, the photograph is part of the documentation for diagnostic records, or it may be part of a new drug application. In addition, a high resolution electronic image may be made from the image pattern for record-keeping and research purposes.

Because of the tremendous amount of information generated photographically and electronically, good record keeping is essential. Typically, among the requirements of good record keeping are positive image identification and inclusion in the photographic image of identifying and descriptive information pertaining to the image. The information depicted in the photograph, including the identifying and descriptive information, may be computer-stored as a retrievable digital image. If image analysis is performed on the pattern, the resulting image analysis data may also be retrievably stored.

It is important that the image recorded be accurate and clear because, once the gel is disposed of, the only source of information is the photographic or electronic image. The characteristics of gel images create special lighting problems which make reproduction of the images difficult. For example, a major portion of the field in a gel image is transparent. Thus, the amount of light necessary to adequately illuminate the image often produces a flare or excessive brightness which overwhelms the small spots which constitute the image, whereby the information contained in the image may be lost and the dynamic range recorded is reduced.

When it is desired to make both electronic and photographic reproductions of the gel image, separate, multi-step processes are required. However, the fragility of the gel medium, coupled with the multi-step processes, makes it difficult to handle a great number of images at any one time. Also, if great care is not taken, it is possible to destroy the gel before the information is acquired.

Typically, the information contained in a pattern is cross-checked and compared with the information in other similar or diverse patterns. Thus, ease of retrieval enabling inter-comparison is an important and desirable feature of any recording and storage system.

In order to illustrate the importance of a simple, efficient and accurate system, it is instructive to consider construction of the Human Protein Index, in which hundreds of thousands of two-dimensional electrophoretic patterns must be analyzed, or sequencing the DNA of the entire human genome which will ultimately require the analysis and storage of data from many millions of gels. For either of these projects an automatic, efficient and accurate system for acquiring, recording and storing the information associated with these gels is essential if significant progress towards analysis of the primary information is to be made.

Prior art systems have not comprehensively addressed the foregoing problems. The importance of the present invention lies in its comprehensive approach to satisfying the record-keeping requirements associated with photographic reproduction and electronic imaging of large numbers of fragile images. The system permits simultaneous photographic recording and electronic imaging and storage using an optical system compatible with photographic and electronic media. Recording is accomplished in one or a few steps, and a simple method of image storage, retrieval and inter-comparison is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method and apparatus for photographically and electronically acquiring, recording and storing a data image and information, including text and identification images, associated with said data image in photographic and electronic media.

The apparatus includes means for photographing the data image on film; means for generating and displaying a text image associated with the data image from stored data in response to a call for the text; means for photographing the text image associated with the data image on the film in proximity to the data image; means for generating an identification image or indicia associated with the data image from stored data in response to a call for the identification image; means for recording onto the film machine and/or human readable identification indicia to identify the image and associated text; and means for electronically acquiring the image and retrievably transmitting the image to storage in association with said associated stored data.

The method of the invention includes the steps of photographing the data image onto the film; calling up from storage and displaying text associated with the data image; photographing the text onto the film; calling up from storage and generating identification indicia associated with the text and data image; marking the film with the identification indicia; and electronically acquiring the data image and retrievably transferring the data image to storage in association with the text and identification images. In one embodiment, the steps are accomplished nearly simultaneously in at least one scan pass of the data image.

In another embodiment, method and apparatus for optically and electronically comparing and storing images are described. The apparatus includes film transport means for moving images on each of a plurality of film strips into a viewing position and a scanning position. Means are provided to illuminate the film at each of the viewing and scanning positions. Optical and electronic means are provided to optically view superimposed and side-by-side images and electronically scan and store said images. The method includes transporting film strips separately to viewing and scanning locations, illuminating the film strips and viewing and scanning and storing the images in side-by-side and superimposed configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the series of steps carried out in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic illustration of an apparatus for practicing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, with some control elements deleted and an alternate form of a scanning mechanism illustrated.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an apparatus for practicing the present invention using a double scanning sequence.

FIGS. 5A-5D are schematic illustrations showing various scanning techniques using different scan times and different photodiode array configurations.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an arrangement for comparing two photograph images.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following are definitions of some of the terms used throughout the disclosure:

The term "image" refers to electrophoresis gels, either one- or two-dimensional, to autoradiographs, to text, to identification indicia, or to any other material or information which is usefully recorded both photographically and electronically.

"Electronic scanning" refers to the use of means such as diode arrays or charge-coupled devices consisting of a series of photosensitive elements to allow densitometric readings to be made along a scan line.

"Flare" is the scattering of light in an optical system due to dust, diffraction, or scatter off any surface or in any component which contributes to non-linearity in response and to the loss of dynamic range or signal.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the basic elements of the present invention, wherein, through a series of four steps, indicated symbolically as apparatus locations I-IV, respective text, data and identification images are acquired and recorded photographically and electronically.

A film 10 is carried between respective feed and takeup rolls 12 and 14. The film 10 is sequentially moved longitudinally in the direction of arrow F.sub.d from feed roll 12 to takeup roll 14. The text, data and identification images are recorded onto the film at locations I, II and IV.

At location I, a cathode ray tube (CRT) 16 displays text information in the form of a text image T called up from storage in a central processing unit (CPU) 26 by an operator.

A gel 18, at location II, contains thereon a configuration of lines or spots, as shown, representing a data image D to be recorded on the film. A slit light source 20 provides a slit source of intense light to illuminate a portion of the gel 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the gel 18 is moved relative to the film 10 in the direction illustrated by the arrow S.sub.d. In other embodiments hereinafter described, it will become clear that the direction of relative movement of the film 10, slit light source 20, and gel 18 may be varied in order to accomplish scanning and recording of the data image D onto the film 10 from the gel 18 in a variety of ways.

At location III, an electronic scanning camera 22 (shown in the drawing as ESC 22) is adapted to electronically capture an electronic representation of the data image D on the gel 18, and transmit the image to storage in the CPU 26.

At location IV, a recording device 24 is adapted to record onto the film 10 an identification image ID, in the form of machine and/or human readable indicia, in response to a call from storage in CPU 26 by the operator.

Movement of the film 10, text image display on the CRT 16, scanning of the gel 18 by the slit light source 20, operation of the electronic scanning camera 22, and operation of the recording device 24 are centrally controlled by the central processing unit 26.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the operator prepares a gel 18 which is supported on means (not shown in FIG. 1) for relative movement with respect to the light source 20 and the film 10. Once the gel 18 is prepared and located for recording of the data image D thereon, the operator, using an identification number or code (already on the gel), calls up from storage previously recorded text information about the gel 18 and displays the information in the form of text image T on the CRT 16. The text image T displayed on the CRT 16 is recorded at location I on the film 10 while both are stationary. Arrow R.sub.t indicates recording of the text image T at location I. The film 10 is thereafter advanced to location II whereupon the film 10, gel 18 and light source 20 are moved relative to each other to scan and project the data image D on the gel 18 towards the film 10. The data image D is recorded on the film 10 as indicated by the arrow R.sub.i. At the same time, the data image D is deflected, by split imaging means (not shown in FIG. 1) toward the electronic scanning camera 22 at location III. Thus, the same data image D as appears in the gel 18 is scanned and acquired by the electronic scanning camera 22 as indicated by the arrow R.sub.i at location III. The data image captured by camera 22 is sent to storage in the CPU 26 at the same time that the data image D is being photographed onto the film 10 at location II. Thereafter, the film is advanced to location IV, whereupon a signal from the CPU 26 activates the recorder 24 to record an identification image ID onto the film 10 as indicated by the arrow R.sub.id. Although shown sequentially at location IV, this identification number may also be recorded on the edge of the film while it is at location I, II, or III.

It is possible that the photographic scanning of the gel 18 and the electronic acquisition of the data image D may be performed as separate steps, as hereinafter described. It should be understood, however, that the illustration in FIG. 1 and the accompanying description is illustrative of the contemplated process of the present invention whereby as much information as possible about the gel 18 is acquired and recorded at about the same time.

A detailed illustration of one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. In the drawing, a scanner camera 40 is adapted to acquire and photographically record the text image T, the data image D, and the identification image ID. A movable scanner carriage 42 is adapted to carry and illuminate the gel 18 for recording the data image D thereon. CRT 16 is adapted to display the text image T. Recording device 24 produces the ID image. CPU 26, referred to in FIG. 1, includes a microprocessor 44, a storage device 46, and a keyboard entry device 48. The CPU 26 controls the operation of the camera 40, movement of the scanner carriage 42, the CRT 16, and the recording device 24.

The scanner carriage 42 for the gel 18 includes a clear glass support plate 50 and a movable tabel 52 mounted for reciprocal and lateral motion on lead screws 54, which are driven by a motor 56 in response to an output from the CPU 26. The motor 56 is preferably a phased-locked motor known in the art. In operation, a high resolution, two-dimensional gel 18 is loaded onto the scanner carriage 42. The gel 18 is illuminated by slit light source 20 which includes a stationary housing 58 and a high intensity bulb 60. The housing 58 has a lateral slit 62 which projects a band or slit of light L.sub.s from the light bulb 60 through the glass support plate 50 and through the gel 18 towards camera 40 in the direction of arrow R.sub.i. The slit light source provides a narrow band of high intensity light L.sub.s which reduces flare.

The camera 40 includes a housing 64 having a first or main lens system 66 and a second lens system 68. The camera 40 has a film magazine 70 which houses the film 10 and the respective feed and takeup rolls 12 and 14, described briefly in connection with FIG. 1. The film 10 is transported from the feed roll 12 to the takeup roll 14 by means of a sprocketed drive roller 72 and a series of idler rollers 74. The housing 64 includes an apertured wall 76 having a relatively wide text image aperture 78 and a relatively narrow data image aperture or slit 80 as shown. A pressure plate 82 abuts the wall 76, and the film 10 is captured between the pressure plate 82 and wall 76 so that it lies in a focal plane 84 for the first and second lenses 66 and 68. The image aperture 80 is in the form of a slit which further reduces flare by allowing only a narrow exposure area on film 10 at any one time.

The electronic scanning camera 22 noted in FIG. 1 includes a photodiode array 86 and an electronics module 88 associated therewith. The photodiode array 86 provides a signal to the electronics module 88 which is conveyed to the CPU 26.

A beam splitting prism 90 is located in front of the data image slit 80. The band of light L.sub.s passes through the lens 66 and is split by the beam splitting prism 90 so that the optical information is transmitted to the film 10 through the data image slit 80 as light beam L.sub.s (a) and to the photodiode array 86 as light beam L.sub.s (b). When the data image D is in proper focus, the data image is located at a distance F.sub.1 from the lens 66 and focal plane 84 is located at a distance F.sub.2 from the lens. Distances F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are called focal distances.

A front surface mirror 92 is located in back of the second lens system 68 for directing optical information as light beam L.sub.t in the direction of arrow R.sub.t onto the film 10 through the text image aperture 78.

The recording device or optical recorder 24, controlled by the CPU 26, optically records onto the film 10 machine and/or human readable identification indicia as the film 10 passes over recording idler 94.

The system acquires and records optical information in four different operations, as follows. The operator first prepares a gel 18 and locates the gel on the glass plate 50. The operator reads identifying information in the form of human or machine readable code on the gel 18 and keys the information into the CPU 26 via the keyboard 48 or by other appropriate means (e.g., a bar code scanner). Information previously held in storage 46 is called up and displayed on the CRT 16. The information displayed on the CRT is the text image T. At this time the film 10 is stationary and a shutter (not shown) in the lens 68 facing the CRT 16 is activated by CPU 26. The optical information displayed on the CRT 16 is photographed on the film 10 via the mirror 92 and text image aperture 78. The length 1 of the text image aperture 78 represents the lengthwise frame size of the text image.

After the text image T is photographed, the film 10 is advanced in the direction of the arrow F.sub.d towards the data image slit 80. The movable table 52 is initially positioned to the extreme left in FIG. 2 with the slit aperture 62 located directly below the leading edge L.sub.e of the gel 18. As the film 10 is advanced smoothly and evenly past the data image slit 80, a shutter (not shown) in the lens 66 is opened by CPU 26 and the high intensity lamp 60 is activated, projecting slit light beam L.sub.s through the gel 18, through prism 90 as beam L.sub.s (a), and toward the film 10. The film 10 advances in the direction F.sub.d at speed V.sub.f by means of the sprocketed drive 72. The gel 18 moves at speed V.sub.g in the direction S.sub.d by means of the motor 56 acting through the lead screw 54. The film 10 and gel 18 move at relative speeds V.sub.f, V.sub.g which are in the same ratio as the focal distances F.sub.1 and F.sub.2, that is, F.sub.1 :F.sub.2 =V.sub.g :V.sub.f. Image scanning and photographing of the data image D occurs as the gel 18 is scanned from the leading edge L.sub.e to the trailing edge L.sub.t. It is also important that the film 10 is evenly and smoothly moved relative to the gel 18 so that image magnification or reduction is the same in both the direction of the film F.sub.d and the direction normal to the plane of the drawing, so that the image is not blurred.

It should be understood that an image of almost any length in the direction F.sub.d may be recorded because the image and the film may be moved during film exposure.

At the same time that the data image D is photographed, the light beam L.sub.s representing the data image is split by the prism 90 and one of the split beams L.sub.s (b) is directed toward the photodiode array 86 and electronics module 88. As the movable table 52 is moved from left to right as aforesaid, the optical information carried by the light beam L.sub.s (b) is captured or acquired by the photodiode array 86 and the electronics module 88. Information representative of the data image D is transmitted to the CPU 26 and into storage 46.

The light beam L.sub.s (b) is focused onto the photodiode array 86 by proper positionment of the array 86 relative to lens 66 or by other means not shown. It is important that the data image D is properly focused on the film 10 and photodiode array 86 so that both photographic and electronic acquisition of the image occurs simultaneously.

The beam splitting prism is designed so that the light L.sub.s is split as shown into beams L.sub.s (a) for the film 10 and L.sub.s (b) for the electronic scanning camera 22 in such a way that each respective beam is optimized. In other words, the beam L.sub.s (a) has an intensity adapted to best expose film 10 and the beam L.sub.s (b) is of a character best adapted to activate the photodiode array 86.

The electronic scanning camera 22 may also include focusing and light attenuating means (not shown) to optimize the exposure of the photodiode array 86, and such means may be controlled by the CPU 26 in response to the information obtained from the electronic scanning camera, the operator, or the data image itself. For example, scan data from a sharp reference edge in the plane of the data image may be compared with stored data commensurate with a sharp edge, and the lens 66 may be adjusted until the actual data and stored data match, whereby proper focusing is achieved. Proper exposure for obtaining densitometric control may be accomplished by means of absorbance step wedges 53 located on the moving table 52. The step wedges 53 have known absorbancies so that the response of the electronic scanning camera 22 and lens system 66 may be measured, calibrated and controlled. Light passing through lens 66 may be controlled by manually adjusting the f-stop of the lens 66 in a known manner. Alternatively, f-stop control may be effected by the CPU 26 in accordance with a suitable command, or automatically in response to signals from photodiode array 86.

The recording head 24, in the form of a focused light source, modulated by signals produced in the CPU 26, generates the identification image ID in human and/or machine readable form by exposing the film 10. The identification ID is recorded at some appropriate location on the film 10 near the photographed text image T and data image D.

After all the images have been acquired and recorded, the gel 18 is removed from the movable table 52 and the components are repositioned so that another gel may be photographed.

In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 3, the gel 18 is scanned under water. The arrangement in FIG. 3 eliminates the possibility of air bubbles being trapped under the gel 18 causing a distortion of the image or other anomaly. The gel 18 is scanned in a tank 93 containing water 96. One or more gels 18 to be scanned are located in an in-feed gel stack 98 on feed-gel holder 100 which is raised as the gels 18 are fed, by a mechanism not shown. The gel 18 being scanned passes between the nip of drive rollers 102 which have a fine surface grit to enhance friction. The rollers 102 are driven at the same speed in opposite directions as shown.

A tubular or elongated light source 104 is contained within a waterproof enclosure 106 having a transparent slit window 108 in upper end 110. A transparent bar 112, set in a leak-tight enclosure or shroud 114, allows the light L.sub.s passing through the slit 108 to pass up to the camera 40, which is the same as that shown in FIG. 2. The shroud 114 extends above the surface 96' of the water. This arrangement shields the light L.sub.s passing through gel 18 from disturbances due to irregularities in the surface 96' of the water.

The scanned gel 18 passes between downstream rollers 116 and slides off an inclined slide 118 onto downstream gel stack 98'. The gels 18 may be fed through the system by hand or by an automatic gel advancement mechanism (not shown).

In accordance with the invention, the text image T is recorded in the same fashion as described with respect to FIG. 2. As the gel 18 is inserted between the drive rollers 102, the operator starts the second part of the scanning cycle, the photography of the text having been completed as aforesaid. The movement of the film 10 is started, a shutter (not shown) in the lens system 66 is opened, and the film 10 and gel 18 advance in opposite directions at speeds related to their focal distances. Termination of the scan cycle is preset to conform with the length of the gel 18 from the leading edge L.sub.e to the trailing edge L.sub.t. Termination of the cycle can, for example, occur at the end of a given number of revolutions of the drive rollers 102 signifying a certain circumferential distance corresponding to the length of the gel 18.

Simultaneously with the scan photographing of the data image onto the film 10, electronic acquisition and signal transmission to the CPU (not shown in FIG. 3) is accomplished in the same manner as aforesaid with respect to FIG. 2.

A simplified system in which electronic scanning is done later on the film negative (or a positive print), is shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a modified camera 140 and the gel 18 remain stationary. A movable slit light source 120 is mounted on a carriage 152 and lead screws 154. The lead screws 154 are driven by motor 156 in response to a control from the CPU 26. In this case, the gel support 150 remains stationary.

The camera 140 has one lens 66 and a movable focal plane shutter 122 having a slit 124. The focal plane shutter 122 is driven by motor 126, between respective start and finish positions S.sub.p and S.sub.f, shown in the drawing. The respective start and finish positions S.sub.p and S.sub.f correspond with the length l of a data image aperture 178 in optical plane 176. As the movable slit light source 120 scans the gel 18 from left to right, the focal plane shutter 122 moves from right to left and the film 10 remains stationary.

A mirror 160 may be moved from the retracted position A to the text insertion position B, shown in dotted lines. Movement of the mirror 160 may be manually or mechanically effected by suitable means not shown. When the mirror 160 is located in the text insertion position B, the text image T is called up on the CRT 16 and is projected through the lens 66 onto the stationary film 10 as the focal plane shutter 122 is moved between positions S.sub.f and S.sub.p. Focal plane shutter 122 may have a width dimension W which is adjustable to vary the exposure of the film 10.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 4 is a simplified version of the invention in which the camera 140 and the gel 18 a